wicked

/ˈwɪkɪd/

/ˈwɪkɪd/

Other forms: wickedest; wickeder

Wicked has two quite contradictory meanings. If something is pure evil, then it is wicked. Think Darth Vader. On the other hand, as an informal slang term, wicked also means excellent — as in "that DJ is wicked, man!" Go figure.

Other shades of meaning for wicked include something that is playful or enjoyably malicious. Someone might have a wicked sense of humor, for example, meaning it's fierce and takes aim sharply at its victims. Or it can also mean something that, while not actively evil, is still extremely unpleasant. Exams can be wicked, and so can someone's temper or the weather. The word comes from the Old English term wicca meaning "wizard."

Definitions of wicked

1. adjective

   having committed unrighteous acts
   synonyms: sinful, unholy

   unrighteous

   not righteous
2. adjective

   morally bad in principle or practice
   synonyms:

   evil

   morally bad or wrong

   immoral

   deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong

   impious

   lacking piety or reverence for a god

   wrong

   contrary to conscience or morality or law

   unrighteous

   not righteous

   evil, vicious

   having the nature of vice

   heavy

   (of an actor or role) being or playing the villain

   flagitious, heinous

   extremely wicked, deeply criminal

   iniquitous, sinful, ungodly

   characterized by iniquity; wicked because it is believed to be a sin

   irreclaimable, irredeemable, unredeemable, unreformable

   insusceptible of reform

   dastardly, nefarious, villainous

   extremely wicked

   peccable, peccant

   liable to sin

   antonyms:

   virtuous

   morally excellent

   chaste

   morally pure

   good

   morally admirable

   moral

   concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

   pious

   having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity

   righteous

   characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice

   impeccable

   not capable of sin

   impeccant, innocent, sinless

   free from sin
3. adjective

   intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
   “a wicked cough”

   synonyms: severe, terrible

   intense

   possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
4. adjective

   naughtily or annoyingly playful
   “a wicked prank”

   synonyms: arch, impish, implike, mischievous, pixilated, prankish, puckish

   playful

   full of fun and high spirits
5. adjective

   highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
   “a wicked stench”

   synonyms: disgustful, disgusting, distasteful, foul, loathly, loathsome, repellant, repellent, repelling, revolting, skanky, yucky

   offensive

   unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses